Research Question: How much money can a school save a year by being energy effiecent? Contributed by: Liz Johnston 1 .Money-saving efforts paying off for school system: Nearly $567,140 saved in energy costs
response: This article was about the Catawba County Schools that is going green. The school will be saving three thousand tons of coal, 10,000 barrels of oil, five million kilowatt hours, 35 percent of their energy bill and mostly impressive, $567,138. They did this just by easy steps of turning off tv’s and computers at the end of the day, using energy-saving light bulbs, switching to programmable thermostats. These are all simple steps to be green. Every school could easily be like Catawba County Schools.
2.
article: anyone who has ever had a 9-year-old understands the concept of the unanswerable question. While I’ve fi elded my share from my son Ethan, there is one question he keeps lobbing at me that I can’t even make up a good response to. “How come we keep cutting down the rainforest,” he asks from the back seat of the car, when we’re on a bike ride or sitting at the breakfast table. I’ve tried arguing with the concept of “we” and pinning the blame on commercial logging and greedy governments, but that still doesn’t satisfy me, never mind him. The best answer I’ve come up with so far is to try to make a difference ourselves. And that ties in directly with this month’s cover story about energy conservation, “The Grass is Greener on This Side,” page 42. We’ve all heard the jokes about how education is nearly immune to change, how it runs behind the business world in adapting new technologies, how many classrooms are still set up the same way they were when we were in the fourth grade. There may or may not be good excuses for some of these defi ciencies, but there is one area that school districts can take the lead in: saving energy. I say this because it makes sense for three reasons: saving energy wherever possible is the responsible thing to do; it can save school districts up to $1.5 billion a year; and it can help schools educate students about energy, conservation and how the two intersect. School districts spend $6 billion annually on energy and the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that one of every four dollars are wasted. Ten percent can be saved simply by turning off unneeded lights, shutting down computers and leaving personal space heaters at home. The other 15 percent of the estimated savings would come from replacing outdated equipment. If you don’t believe that number, neither does Merrilee Harrigan, the director of education at the Alliance to Save Energy. “The 25 percent fi gure is conservative; it’s probably higher than that in many, many schools,” she says. “Money is still a wonderful motivator,” says Edgar Hatrick, superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools in Leesburg, Va. In the 12 years it has run an energy program, Hatrick says the district has been able to avoid $17 million in energy costs in its 68 schools. “That’s bought some textbooks and teachers,” he adds. The reason I think this movement makes the most sense is because schools can use these measures to help educate students. Southwest Licking School District near Columbus, Ohio, recently made $1.6 million in school infrastructure improvements, including adding a small solar panel in its middle school. The solar panel has been integrated into the school’s science curriculum and has allowed Superintendent Forest Yocum to sell a small amount of energy back to the power company. Besides bringing science education to life, schools are using the army of students to do some of their work. Students in Philadelphia mapped classroom temperatures and presented the data to the building engineer to fi x their schools’ uneven heating system. Like many districts, Loudoun County tries to get students involved in conservation. It has an inspirational contest to design light switch covers to encourage turning unneeded lights off. “I’m convinced children can make a difference,” Hatrick says. “I started wearing my seatbelt because my kids told me; I stopped smoking because my kids told me. I’m convinced children in school will affect behaviors at home.” Who knows, one 9-year-old’s question may even lead to a satisfactory answer someday.
response: This article talked about the outdated appliances used in classrooms and how schools can save money. In this article the author claims that school districts spend about six billion dollars a year on energy and can save about 25%, 1.5 billion by going green. He also talks about how schools should teach in the curriculum around what is global warming and what it means to go green to educate students so they take steps in their home lives to be energy conscience. The money the schools save in energy cost could go to more needed school supplies, like new books or updating appliances to energy stars.
3. Schools find Green is Paying Off
responce:
Schools are quickly catching on that going green is a smart idea. This article told the story of many schools that are doing their duty to keep the environment clean while in school “THIS fall, students in the cafeteria line at Scarsdale High School are choosing among organic squash, peppers and fresh tomatoes grown on site. In White Plains, a new elementary school will be using geothermal energy and a new roof that can grow plants in 2009. In Toms River, N.J., every school building has solar panels. Sparked by a desire among educational leaders to set an example and squeezed by rising energy costs, schools across the region are going green.” The most interesting part of this article to me is when the author talks about green standards in schools. A LEED is a national certification for schools that are completely green. It also says that all schools under construction must use an alternative energy when building. After reading this article, I wondered if my school did anything to go green or if it had any energy standard that it was trying to achieve. I think all schools should have a green standard.
citation:
Silverman, Fran. "Schools Find Green Is Paying Off.(Long Island Weekly Desk)(SCARSDALE)." The New York Times.158. 54461 (Oct 12, 2008): 3(L). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Providence Public Library. 4 Dec. 2008 <http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=OVRC&docId=CJ186829340&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=ripl1&version=1.0>.
4. School cleaning going green: Staff: Cabarrus custodians first in N.C. to adopt 100 percent environmentally friendly practices
response:
Cabarrus County School has gone one-hundred percent green with their cleaning products. They are now equipping these custodians with microfiber dust mops and chemicals that emit fewer fumes. They said with the new cleaning products they are going green but also helping students and faculties’ health. With strong odor chemicals they used to clean, it increased asthma and bronchial problems. The students, staff, and especially the custodians take pride in the green cleaning products they use.
citation:
"School cleaning going green: Staff: Cabarrus custodians first in N.C. to adopt 100 percent environmentally friendly practices." Independent Tribune (Concord, NC).(June 20, 2008): NA. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Providence Public Library. 4 Dec. 2008 <http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=OVRC&docId=CJ181268623&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=ripl1&version=1.0>.
Research Question: How much money can a school save a year by being energy effiecent?
Contributed by: Liz Johnston
1 .Money-saving efforts paying off for school system: Nearly $567,140 saved in energy costs
response:
This article was about the Catawba County Schools that is going green. The school will be saving three thousand tons of coal, 10,000 barrels of oil, five million kilowatt hours, 35 percent of their energy bill and mostly impressive, $567,138. They did this just by easy steps of turning off tv’s and computers at the end of the day, using energy-saving light bulbs, switching to programmable thermostats. These are all simple steps to be green. Every school could easily be like Catawba County Schools.
citation:
"Money-saving efforts paying off for school system: Nearly $567,140 saved in energy costs." Hickory Daily Record (Hickory, NC). (Feb 27, 2007): NA. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Providence Public Library. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=OVRC&docId=CJ165919736&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=ripl1&version=1.0>.
2.
article:
anyone who has ever had a 9-year-old understands the concept of the
unanswerable question. While I’ve fi elded my share from my son Ethan, there is one question he keeps lobbing at me that I can’t even make up a
good response to. “How come we keep cutting down the rainforest,” he
asks from the back seat of the car, when we’re on a bike ride or sitting at
the breakfast table.
I’ve tried arguing with the concept of “we” and pinning the blame on commercial
logging and greedy governments, but that still doesn’t satisfy me, never mind him.
The best answer I’ve come up with so far is to try to make a difference ourselves.
And that ties in directly with this month’s cover story about energy conservation,
“The Grass is Greener on This Side,” page 42. We’ve all heard the jokes about how
education is nearly immune to change, how it runs behind the business world in
adapting new technologies, how many classrooms are still set up the same way they
were when we were in the fourth grade.
There may or may not be good excuses for some of these defi ciencies, but there
is one area that school districts can take the lead in: saving energy. I say this because
it makes sense for three reasons: saving energy wherever possible is the responsible
thing to do; it can save school districts up to $1.5 billion a year; and it can help
schools educate students about energy, conservation and how the two intersect.
School districts spend $6 billion annually on energy and the U.S. Department of
Energy estimates that one of every four dollars are wasted. Ten percent can be saved
simply by turning off unneeded lights, shutting down computers and leaving personal
space heaters at home. The other 15 percent of the estimated savings would come
from replacing outdated equipment.
If you don’t believe that number, neither does Merrilee Harrigan, the director of
education at the Alliance to Save Energy. “The 25 percent fi gure is conservative; it’s probably higher than
that in many, many schools,” she says.
“Money is still a wonderful motivator,” says Edgar Hatrick, superintendent of Loudoun County Public
Schools in Leesburg, Va. In the 12 years it has run an energy program, Hatrick says the district has been able
to avoid $17 million in energy costs in its 68 schools. “That’s bought some textbooks and teachers,” he adds.
The reason I think this movement makes the most sense is because schools can use these measures to
help educate students. Southwest Licking School District near Columbus, Ohio, recently made $1.6 million
in school infrastructure improvements, including adding a small solar panel in its middle school. The solar
panel has been integrated into the school’s science curriculum and has allowed Superintendent Forest Yocum
to sell a small amount of energy back to the power company. Besides bringing science education to life,
schools are using the army of students to do some of their work. Students in Philadelphia mapped classroom
temperatures and presented the data to the building engineer to fi x their schools’ uneven heating system.
Like many districts, Loudoun County tries to get students involved in conservation.
It has an inspirational contest to design light switch covers to encourage turning
unneeded lights off. “I’m convinced children can make a difference,” Hatrick says.
“I started wearing my seatbelt because my kids told me; I stopped smoking because
my kids told me. I’m convinced children in school will affect behaviors at home.”
Who knows, one 9-year-old’s question may even lead to a satisfactory
answer someday.
response:
This article talked about the outdated appliances used in classrooms and how schools can save money. In this article the author claims that school districts spend about six billion dollars a year on energy and can save about 25%, 1.5 billion by going green. He also talks about how schools should teach in the curriculum around what is global warming and what it means to go green to educate students so they take steps in their home lives to be energy conscience. The money the schools save in energy cost could go to more needed school supplies, like new books or updating appliances to energy stars.
3. Schools find Green is Paying Off
responce:
Schools are quickly catching on that going green is a smart idea. This article told the story of many schools that are doing their duty to keep the environment clean while in school “THIS fall, students in the cafeteria line at Scarsdale High School are choosing among organic squash, peppers and fresh tomatoes grown on site. In White Plains, a new elementary school will be using geothermal energy and a new roof that can grow plants in 2009. In Toms River, N.J., every school building has solar panels. Sparked by a desire among educational leaders to set an example and squeezed by rising energy costs, schools across the region are going green.” The most interesting part of this article to me is when the author talks about green standards in schools. A LEED is a national certification for schools that are completely green. It also says that all schools under construction must use an alternative energy when building. After reading this article, I wondered if my school did anything to go green or if it had any energy standard that it was trying to achieve. I think all schools should have a green standard.
citation:
Silverman, Fran. "Schools Find Green Is Paying Off.(Long Island Weekly Desk)(SCARSDALE)." The New York Times. 158. 54461 (Oct 12, 2008): 3(L). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Providence Public Library. 4 Dec. 2008 <http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=OVRC&docId=CJ186829340&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=ripl1&version=1.0>.
4. School cleaning going green: Staff: Cabarrus custodians first in N.C. to adopt 100 percent environmentally friendly practices
response:
Cabarrus County School has gone one-hundred percent green with their cleaning products. They are now equipping these custodians with microfiber dust mops and chemicals that emit fewer fumes. They said with the new cleaning products they are going green but also helping students and faculties’ health. With strong odor chemicals they used to clean, it increased asthma and bronchial problems. The students, staff, and especially the custodians take pride in the green cleaning products they use.
citation:
"School cleaning going green: Staff: Cabarrus custodians first in N.C. to adopt 100 percent environmentally friendly practices." Independent Tribune (Concord, NC). (June 20, 2008): NA. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Providence Public Library. 4 Dec. 2008 <http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=OVRC&docId=CJ181268623&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=ripl1&version=1.0>.
EDC 102 F08 Fnl Prj Eval - Liz J